Something is wrong with Nyota. Can Spock make it right?

If I know she's worried
Then I would feel that same old misery
We've been through so much together
We spoke as one and that's what makes it better

~When Something Is Wrong With My Baby by S.A.M. and Dave~

When Something is Wrong

Spock arrived at their quarters, but Uhura was not there. It only took a quick glance around to see she had visited briefly, took a shower, and left again. She had draped her soggy bathrobe across the bedroom chair. Spock picked it up and on instinct, he brought it to his nose, inhaling deeply like a bloodhound learning her scent.

Nyota had a panic attack. She was somewhere alone and possibly upset. The very idea made Spock's blood burn. He should have been here to protect her. He should have never left her behind to protect and defend their home alone. That was his primary role as a husband, to protect his wife, their home, and their family. His very future depended on his wife and he had failed her. He must make amends. With that in mind, Spock left their quarters in search of his wife so he could bring her back where he could protect her properly.

*/*/*

Uhura walked aimlessly through the decks of the Enterprise, which was not an easy feat with the ship being under repair. Maintenance crews were everywhere and there were signs of damage everywhere. It surprised her to see phaser fire marks on the walls in some areas. It still shocked her how easily the pirates were able to board the ship. They had disabled the shields with ease.

That wasn't her problem though. That was something for the captain and Starfleet to worry about. She had bigger fish to fry. She was pregnant. She was going to have a baby. She was going to be a mama. Spock was going to be a daddy! Holy Shit!

She wanted to run somewhere and hide. She looked around her surroundings and realized she had wandered back below decks. She didn't even remember how she got there.

"Ny?"

She turned around at the sound of her name being called by Charlene. Without thinking, she ran over to her friend and grabbed her up in a bear hug like a lifeline.

"What's wrong, Ny?" Charlene asked, hugging her back. Uhura was crying hysterically and bathed in the warmth of Charlene's embrace. "Is it Spock? Is he okay?" Charlene asked.

Uhura nodded her head but just kept crying.

"Girl, what's wrong. I can't fix it if you don't tell me."

"You can't fix it," Uhura cried.

"Ny, you're scaring me. What's happened?"

"I can't tell you yet. It's a secret."

"Why is it a secret? Does it have to do with Spock?"

Uhura nodded her head again.

"Did Spock do something to you?"

"Sort of."

"Sort of? But you can't tell me?"

"No."

"Do I need to beat his ass?" Charlene asked seriously.

Uhura laughed at that, but shook her head no.

"Well, it can't be that bad if you don't want me to hurt him."

"It's my fault. I'm so stupid."

"You're not stupid. You're the smartest person I know besides Mr. Spock."

"You don't know what I've done."

"And I won't know until you tell me."

"I can't tell you, not yet."

"Okay, I get it. We girls have our little secrets. Just remember I'm always here for you when you're ready."

"I know. I guess I wandered down here looking for you without realizing it."

"Well, you found me. Come on, let's go to my quarters, though. I'm just getting off duty and I could use a drink. It's been a long day."

Uhura let go of Charlene and wiped her eyes. "You're telling me? I was in auxiliary control and I think I killed somebody."

Charlene stopped short. She was not expecting that. "What!?"

Uhura explained while she walked along with Charlene and tried to get herself together. "I was in auxiliary control when the raiders boarded us and they tried to take it over. I had to shoot one of the intruders."

"Oh girl, I'm sorry you had to do that. It must have been so scary?"

"It was, but at the time, you just do what you are trained to do. You know?"

"I know. I was in main engineering while Scotty was on the bridge. We had a few injures, mostly radiation burns. Some of it wasn't pretty."

"I can't imagine. The entire thing was pretty crazy."

They made it back to Charlene's cabin, and Uhura took a seat while Charlene made tea. Uhura stared into the hot steaming mug, her thoughts scattered.

"I had a panic attack today too. After it happened, I dropped a cup of hot coffee on my feet. I think. I don't really remember it too well. They had to sedate me."

"Oh, honey I'm sorry." Charlene sat next to her on the sofa and hugged her. "It's been a fucked up day for sure." Charlene rocked Uhura in her arms and they just sat quietly for a while. "Ny. Why are you here instead of with your husband?"

"I can't face him right now. I need to think." Uhura answered, but she sounded tired.

"Okay. I won't ask any more questions. It sounds like you need rest. Want to lie down in my bunk? You look exhausted."

"I am exhausted. But I don't want to close my eyes. I keep seeing his face."

"Who, Spock?"

Uhura shook her head, "No. The raider I killed."

"Honey, maybe you should talk to the ship's counselor. They know how to help you with this better than I can."

Uhura laughed. "They already think I'm crazy. Maybe I am. I'm certainly a fool."

"Nobody thinks you're crazy. And you're not a fool. You are over-stressed, though. That's why we have counselors, just for such occasions."

"I know, and I usually recommend counseling for other people. I even took Spock to a group session."

"Mr. Spock in group therapy? I wish I had been there that night."

"He didn't join in. It was nice having him there, though. Just being there with me was enough."

"He's a good guy," Charlene said.

Uhura agreed. "He really is. Too good for me."

"Oh lord no! We are not doing this again, are we Ny? I thought you said you loved Spock?"

"I guess I do, but..."

"But nothing. Don't say 'but'. You love Spock full stop. It doesn't matter how he feels about you or whatever you were about to say. He's a good guy. You love him. You two are getting along, right?"

"Yes, we are. For now."

"Not for now. You two are the happiest couple I've seen on this ship, and that's saying something with Spock being a Vulcan. He's happy. So why are you hiding here with me instead of crying on his shoulder?"

"I don't know how to tell him what's happening."

"You're talking about this secret of yours?"

Uhura nodded.

"Just tell him. Secrets have a way of coming to light when you least expect them to. I told you that already. Is this about your family?"

"In a way it is."

Charlene grabbed Uhura's head between her hands and looked deep into her eyes. She didn't say a word, but Uhura felt like she was pulling her secrets out of her, anyway. When she finally let go, Charlene said. "You'll be fine. Tell him."

"That's it? I thought you were reading my soul or something."

Charlene laughed. "I'm no telepath. I'm a human woman, just like you. And I know what you're going through. I also know you'll be fine. Unlike me, you have a good man to take care of you, so let him do it. Go home Ny."

Shortly after she said this, Charlene's door chime rang. "I wonder who that is."

"I don't," Uhura said. She had a feeling it was Spock. Whenever he was close by, she got a strange feeling in the pit of her stomach. Maybe that wasn't so strange after what she'd found out. She stood up and arranged her clothing and made sure her eyes were dry and her makeup wasn't smeared. "Okay, let him in."

"You sure?" Charlene asked.

"You were just trying to get rid of me." Uhura reminded her.

"Yeah but-"

"No buts. I'm a married woman. I can't hide behind your skirt. Let him in."

Charlene opened the door, but Spock didn't step over the threshold. He bowed his head to Charlene and then looked past her to Uhura.

"My wife. Attend." Uhura didn't know why that command from Spock made her hop to it, but before she knew what her legs were doing, she was across the room. She barreled into Spock just as she had done to Charlene earlier. Spock wrapped his arms around her, as always, ready to catch her.

"Lieutenant Masters, thank you for your excellent care for my wife. I will take it from here."

"No problem. You owe me one." Charlene smiled at the two of them, leaning on one another. That was as it should be. Whatever they faced, they had to face it together.

"Acknowledged." He looked down into Uhura's upturned face. "Shall we go home, Aduna?"

Uhura allowed Spock to escort her away from Charlene's cabin. They walked arm in arm to their quarters, but Uhura didn't stop when they reached their door.

"I just want to walk for a while. Do you mind?" she asked.

They continued to walk the halls, ignoring everyone they passed. Their own thoughts consumed both of them until they got to the observation deck. It was empty at this time of the evening, and Uhura couldn't walk anymore, so she decided to sit and rest.

They took a seat on a lounge chair and Uhura rested her head on Spock's shoulder while they gazed at the starlight outside the plasteel window.

"It has been a long day," she said after the silence stretched out for too long.

"The day has been exactly 24 earth hours long." Spock replied.

Uhura nudged his shoulder in annoyance. "You know what I meant. How do Vulcans say they have been stressed to their limit?"

"Vulcans would say we have taxed our emotional controls. We would meditate to regain our equilibrium."

"What if you can't meditate?"

"Very few Vulcans lack the ability. However, parents often help their children to master their emotions through a mind-meld."

"Oh, I see."

"I believe humans find it therapeutic to talk about their troubles. Is there something you wish to talk about now?" Spock asked her.

"Dr. McCoy says, "To everything, there is a season"," Uhura said. "A time to be born, and a time to die. I get it now."

"What is it that you get?"

"Today, in auxiliary control, I had to shoot someone. They died."

"I see," Spock said, but he added nothing more. He just listened.

"I suppose it means it was their time to die and someone else's time to be born."

Spock didn't respond. He just waited for her to continue, which frustrated Uhura even more. What good was being telepathic if you couldn't read your wife's mind without her having to ask? Couldn't he just figure it out!

"Spock, I don't know how to tell you this. Can't you just read my mind?"

Spock looked at his wife and he could sense the strange mood she was in. Her mind was in turmoil, her emotions unfocused. Something was very wrong. Something Dr. McCoy told her had shaken her badly. But he didn't want to force it out of her. More than anything, he wanted her to trust him with her secrets, with her problems, with her love. He could not just take it, she had to give it to him freely. "I could read your mind, Aduna. But is that what you really want?"

Uhura sighed. She just wanted this secret out. "No. I want you to listen. Can you do that? Just listen," she pleaded.

"I am all ears," Spock said.

That caught her off guard, and she let out a startled laugh. "You devil!" She leaned forward and kissed him gently, then she turned her head slightly to whisper in one of those ears. "Okay, Mr. All Ears, I..." She took a deep breath, "We are going to have a baby." She rushed the words out and then sat back and looked at his face.

Spock had a range of facial expressions he allowed himself to show at any given time. Surprise, fascination, hubris, all those emotions flickered across his face now, including one Uhura had not seen before. She wasn't positive, but it looked like he was in a trance.

Uhura waved a hand in front of his face. "Hello! Enterprise to Spock. Come in Mr. Spock!"

Spock finally blinked. "Ah, are you sure?" he asked.

Uhura shook her head. "No, but Dr. McCoy is."

Spock nodded as if he understood or agreed but he looked gobsmacked.

"Spock say something, please." Uhura shook his arm. "I'm freaking out here. You're supposed to be logical. Say something logical!"

"Are you, uh... okay? Physically? Is everything alright?"

"Yes, I feel fine. Dr. McCoy says I just need to rest and stay calm until we meet for more tests. And you'll come with me?"

"Yes, of course I will."

"And you're fine with this?" she asked shyly.

"Are you fine with it?"

"Are you a parrot all of a sudden? Spock, tell me. What are we going to do?"

Uhura looked up at him with her big brown eyes pleading with him to have all the answers, but at that moment all Spock could say was, "We are going to have a baby?"